THE CHRISTIAN NATURALIST. 35 



ness in the works of God. What man calls watte abounds 

 on every side. For example, amongst the millions of 

 blossoms which in the spring-season emit their frag- 

 rant odours in the fields, and gardens, and orchards, 

 how few will bear food for the use of man ? But will 

 they all therefore be wasted ? Will they turn to no 

 other use ? Yes, even the very blight which ruins them 

 for man's use, does itself produce unnumbered myriads 

 of the creatures of God, who feed, and fatten, and 

 enjoy their fleeting existence/ 



But is it not also true that there is just as little of 

 waste in the labours of him who sows spiritually ? If 

 the farmer who sows so much that is unproductive to 

 himself, has but little reason to complain, still less 

 should those repine who have to scatter much of the 

 seed of the word of God upon places where it brings 

 forth no fruit. The argument is susceptible of appli- 

 cation upon the broadest as well as the most narrow 

 scale. It applies itself to the labours of Christian 

 Missionaries generally, and not less to the National 

 Church of this country. It may be that a large portion 

 of its Ministers are enabled to see as little fruit from 

 the gospel -seed which they scatter among their people 

 from time to time, as do those zealous labourers who 



